Adhesive tape dispenser and tube former

ABSTRACT

A simple dispensing device is provided for forming from a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape a tube outwardly covered by a pressure-sensitive adhesive. A one-piece member, preferably of rod stock, is bent medially into a U-shaped loop to form a support for a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. One end of the member is angularly offset to provide a mandrel about which the tape is wrapped into a helix when being formed into a tube. The other end of the stock is bent right angularly and formed with a sharpened cut-off edge for use in cutting the tape when using the device as a conventional dispenser.

United States Patent [1 1 Hurst [451 July 24,1973

1 1 ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER AND TUBE FORMER [76] Inventor: James A. Hurst, 1310 Brockton Dr.,

Signal Mountain, Tenn. 37377 221 Filed: July 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 167,592

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1964 Thomas 225/66 12/1969 Hurst ..93/80 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill Attorney-Morse, Altman & Oates [57] ABSTRACT A simple dispensing device is provided for forming from a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape a tube outwardly covered by a pressure-sensitive adhesive. A one-piece member, preferably of rod stock, is bent medially into a U-shaped loop to form a support for a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. One end of the member is angularly offset to provide a mandrel about which the tape is wrapped into a helix when being formed into a tube. The other end of the stock is bent right angularly and formed with a sharpened cut-off edge for use in cutting the tape when using the device as a conventional dispenser.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIED 3. 747. 483

//VVE/VTOR JAMES A. HURST ATTORNEYS ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER AND TUBE FORMER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to dispensers of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved tape dispenser for forming adhesive-coated tubes adapted to join various objects normally requiring two-faced tape.

2. Summary of the Prior Art In my prior US. Pat. No. 3,485,147 dated Dec. 23, 1969 entitled Adhesive Tube and Dispenser there is disclosed a dispenser for converting a roll of conventional pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, coated on one side only with adhesive, into a tube form in which the outer surface is covered with the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The tubes or straws made thereby are useful for various applications normally requiring double-faced tape. For example, the tubes may be used to join two superimposed sheets, apply a decorative ribbon to a gift package, mount a picture to a wall or like applications. In the foregoing patent, there is disclosed a dispenser for making tubes of this type and a belt drive system is employed for this purpose. The present invention has for one of its objects providing a simpler, more compact and less expensive dispenser of the foregoing type and one which is more suitable for mass market applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features a dispenser for pressuresensitive adhesive tape adapted selectively to serve as a conventional dispenser of tape lengths or a dispenser adapted to form an adhesive tube, comprising a onepiece frame preferably of rod stock, medially bent into a U-shaped loop configuration to provide a support for a spool of tape. One end of the frame is formed with a mandrel extending in a diagonally offset position across the dispensing path of the tape and about which the tape is helically wrapped to form the tube. The opposite end of the frame isbent backwardly across the dispensing path of the tape and formed with a cutting edge for separating a length of tape drawn from the spool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a tube dispenser made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof, and,

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the reference character generally indicates an adhesive tube dispenser comprised ofa bracket 12 carrying a roll 14 on a singlefaced pressure-sensitive adhesive tape such as the transparent tape sold under the trademark Scotch" Brand by 3M Company. The roll of tape 14 typically is wound on an annular spool 16 which is rotatably mounted to a hub 18 engaging a U-shaped loop formed in the bracket 12. The hub 18 may be formed with an elliptical center slot 17 to snugly yet detachably engage the legs of the loop 20. An annular rib 19 is also formed on the outer end of the hub to hold the spool on the hub.

The bracket l2 in the illustrated embodiment is fabri cated from a single length of stock metal such, for example, 3/16 inch diameter brass rod stock bent into the configuration shown. Obviously, other materials, such as steel, or plastic may be employed to advantage and the dimensions of the materials may be modified as desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket 12 includes the U-shaped loop 20, a mandrel 22 formed at the end of section 24 extending in one direction from one leg of the loop 20 and a cut-off leg 26 formed on the end of a section 28 28 extending in an opposite direction from the other leg of the loop 20.

The cut-off leg 26 is bent perpendicularly with respect to the portion 28 and is parallel to legs of the loop 20 of substantially the same length. The leg 26 is formed with a cutting edge 30 on the outer face thereof and this may be in the form of serrated teeth or a separate cutting blade attachment may be mounted to the leg 26, as desired. The leg 26 will be seen to be positioned outwardly from the outer face of the roll 14 whereby a length of tape drawn from the spool may be pulled down and across the cutting edge to separate that length from the roll.

The mandrel 22 is formed at an angle with respect to the axis of the spool as well as with the plane of the bracket 12 so as to extend diagonally across the dispensing path of tape withdrawn from the roll. The mandrel 22 is sufficiently long to extend fully across the path of dispensed tape and the outer end being substantially coplanar with the loop 20 and the outer end of the cutting leg 26.

The function of the mandrel 22 is to permit the continuous formation of an adhesive-covered tube from tape withdrawn from the roll 14. This is done by pulling away a short length of tape from the roll and wrapping it about the mandrel with the adhesive side outwardly as suggested in the drawings. As the tape is wrapped about the mandrel it will form into a helix with adjacent convolutions slightly overlapping one another much like a drinking straw. Once the tube formation is started, one may continue the formation of an adhesive tube of any length by merely continuously twisting the tape with the fingers about the mandrel and the tube will feed off the end of the mandrel. When the desired length of tubing is formed, it is simply cut off by means of a scissors or the like, that portion of the tube remaining on the mandrel serving as the start of any subsequent tubes to be formed.

The resulting adhesive tube is useful for a variety of purposes and, being relatively soft and transparent, may serve where a double-faced adhesive tape might normally be used. For example, they may be used to apply posters to a wall without taping the front face of the poster, sticking decorative bows or the like onto a gift package or any other similar purpose. The tube is readily flattened by moderate pressure and a substantially flush contact can be made between two objects to be joined.

The dispenser disclosed herein functions as a conventional dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and as a tube-forming dispenser using the same roll of tape. The dispenser is extremely inexpensive to produce yet efficient and durable. Different diameter tubes may be made by using different size stock or by adding different sleeves to the mandrel.

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States edge for cutting a section of tape drawn from said 1 roll in open width form across said cutting leg,

0. a straight cylindrical mandrel formed integral with said bracket angularly spaced from said cutting leg and extending at an acute angle with respect to said medial leg and from one end of said medial leg diagonally across the plane of said roll and having its free end terminating at a point spaced oppositely the other end of said medial leg whereby tape drawn from said roll may be wrapped helically thereabouts and drawn as tube from the free end thereof. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said bracket is formed from a single piece of rod stock.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said medial leg is in the form of a U-shaped loop.

4. A device according to claim 1 including a detachable hub mounted to said medial leg and formed with an abutment to retain said roll mountable thereon. 

1. A device for forming and dispensing pressure sensitive tape selectively in open width or an adhesive-covered tube form from a roll of said tape, comprising a. a bracket formed with a medial leg adapted to rotatably support said roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, b. a cutting leg formed integral with said bracket in spaced parallel opposing relation to said medial leg, said cutting leg being formed wIth a cutting edge for cutting a section of tape drawn from said roll in open width form across said cutting leg, c. a straight cylindrical mandrel formed integral with said bracket angularly spaced from said cutting leg and extending at an acute angle with respect to said medial leg and from one end of said medial leg diagonally across the plane of said roll and having its free end terminating at a point spaced oppositely the other end of said medial leg whereby tape drawn from said roll may be wrapped helically thereabouts and drawn as tube from the free end thereof.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said bracket is formed from a single piece of rod stock.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said medial leg is in the form of a U-shaped loop.
 4. A device according to claim 1 including a detachable hub mounted to said medial leg and formed with an abutment to retain said roll mountable thereon. 